Musical instrument



4June 28, 1949.

J. A. BREWER MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Augl. l2, 1946 `|NvENToR Y Joh/7 ,4. E/"ewer B @M M ATTOR N EY.

Patented June 28, 1949 U...1\1frr-.E-D` STATES. PAT ENTv or E l i MUSICAL INSTRUMENT John AnBreWer, Kalamazoo,Mich., assignor, by' decree' of distribution, toRozelda A. Brewer Application August 12, 1946", Serial No. 689,965

14 Claims. n 1

The 'main'objects of this Ainvention are:

First; te provide e. musical instrument which may `be readilyy embodied in 'toys such as a toy -pian-o and at the' same time one which has desirablel tone qualities andwhich'may'be made to quiteaccurately lfollow the musical scale and -at the same time one which is economical in its partsv 'and'easily assembled and capable of with'- sta'nding quite 'severe usage to which such toys are commonly subjected.

Second, to vprovide an instrument in which the keyand hammer -parts are easily mounted or assembled Within the housing.

Third, to provide a structure in which a relatively light touch on the keys produces ya substantialr impact of the hammer or sound elementsf- Objects relating to details `and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The inventionis dened and pointed 'out in lthe claims.

A-preierred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in

which:

4Figsl is a perspective view-of a toy piano embodying the invention, a portion of the top being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a view mainly in longitudinal section on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. Bis :a fragmentary sectional view correspondingto that of Fig.'2 with one of the ham'- mers shown in fulllines in partially actuated position and lin its striking position by dotted lines.

Fig.'v 4"is` a fragmentary view partially in horizontal 4section Ion line 4 4 of Fig.` 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of one of the key hammer units removed from the housing.

Fig". 6 is a View mainly 'in section on line `6--6 of'Fig. 5.

Fig, 7' is an enlarged 'fragmentary view illustrating "the engagementof the' key and hammer.

Fig.v- 8 is a side elevational view of a modied lforrnwof key, the modification being in the positio'ning'of the key pivot slot:

Inf the' accompanying drawing, I have illustratedthe'invention as embodied in a t-oy piano. This 'consists 'of a casing or housing comprising a bottom I 'and top'Z, the bottom extending substantially beyond thetop. Theend or side wall panels 3 have` suitably'conformed upper edgesr 4 andaresec'ur'ed between the bottom land top to provide"-l a rigdcon'nection' for the top to the bottom."

The rear 'endmedg'es -of-fth'e'sepanelsv 3 f are pro-f videdjwith'groovs -'5 s receivingy the; Bend edges of the rear wall member t whichis formed of bend-'- able material, desirably a good grade v-of"caIdboard or fibreboard. The top and bottom edges of'thi's conformed wall member 6 are engaged 'in' yopposed grooves i and 8 providedtherefor'in'th'e top and bottom. Thus, the member E constitutes a ksupporting wall and also is securely retained in its conformed position, the instrument some;l what rep^esenting a grand piano inl outline. This wall'member also constitutes a sounding board."

The sound elements 9 are in the form of steel rods' of graduated length and they are mounted in suitably spaced relation on the bar IU 'which' is glued to the under side of the top adjacent theV front edge thereof.

Thefaceboard i i is disposed between the panel 3 and secured thereto and also secured to the un'- der side of the top. The front wall I2 'is disposed between the front ends of the end members 3 'an-d secured' thereto and to the bottom. I have not' attemptedto'illustrate the securing means as adhesive or glue with brads or other securing means may be used as desired. The legs I3 are secured to the bottom.

Thel-:eys lll are formed with downwardly projecting' arms l'at their front ends, these armsbeing provided with longitudinal slots i I6 and transverse slots il', the transverse slots beingof the'key hole type-thatis, they have enlargements' It. The rear ends of the keys are 'pr-ovided with longitudinal slots lilalso of the keyhole type; the slots i9 being adapted to be springably engaged with the key pivot rod 2U."

.In the'modica'tion shown'inV Fig. 8, the'slot's I 2l corresponding `to the slots IS 'face downwardly, this being an advantage in the manufacture ofthe keys when they are manufactured of plastic material;

The slots I l, I9 and 2| result in springableinger-like portions 'so that the keys may be engaged with a -iJivot ro'd or the pivots 22' vof the hammers 23 maybe engaged with a springing or snap action; the pivots being effectively gripped so that there is no rattle or loosene'ss. The hammers 23 yare rod-like in shape and are' provided` with angled pivot arms 24 which are' disposed iny the slots lin the keys with the pVots'Zil'engaging the slots Il. The hammers have upturn'e'd ends25 provided withspherical impact members 26 desirably ofwood. Of course, it" will be appreciated that other shapes of impact 4members andmaterials'may be employed.

The heels 21 formed bythe vjunctionv of "the arms 24 with the straight portionof the hammers" cushioning and fulcruming strips 28 which may be in the form of thin felt secured to the bottom below the front ends of the keys so that they serve as louifers for the keys when they are depressed. The buffer strips are arranged to receive the return impact of the hammers.

When a key is depressed, the hammer fulcrums on its fulcruming heel and its inner end is swung upwardly--rst swinging on the fulcrum and during the final part of the stroke swinging freely on its pivot so that a comparatively light touch results in a substantial striking momentum.

The sections 30 of the keys are commonly colored black to represent sharps although these sections are not intended or designed for manipulation. However, if two keys are depressed simultaneously with one nger a combination tone results.

The parts of the instrument are economical to produce and are easily and quickly assembled. I have not attempted to illustrate other types of instruments in which the invention might be embodied as it is believed the disclosure made will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt the invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A musical instrument comprising a housing including a bottom, sound elements disposed within the housing, a key pivot rod disposed transversely within the housing, keys having rearwardly facing key slots at their rear ends springably engaged with said pivot rod and downwardly projecting arms at their front ends provided with longitudinal slots and transverse key hole slots opening at the lower ends thereof, hammers having angularly disposed arms at their front ends disposed in said longitudinal slots of said keys and provided with pivots springably engaging the key slots thereof, the angled portions of said angularly disposed arms constituting sliding fulcrums for said hammers, and a combined fulcrum and buier strip secured to the bottom below the front ends of the keys and hammer arms to receive the impact thereof and to swingably support 'the hammers adjacent their fulcrums. 2. A musical instrument comprising a housing including a bottom, sound elements disposed within the housing, a key pivot rod disposed transversely within the housing, keys having rearwardly facing key slots at their rear ends springably engaged with said pivot rod and downwardly projecting arms at their front ends provided with longitudinal slots and transverse key hole slots opening at the lower ends thereof, hammers having angularly disposed arms at their front ends disposed in said longitudinal slots of said keys and provided with pivots springably engaging the key slots thereof, the angled portions of said angularly disposed arms constituting sliding fulcrums for said hammers, and a hammer buffer strip secured to the bottom under the fulcrums of the hammers.

3. A musical instrument comprising a housing including a bottom, sound elements disposed within the housing, a key pivot rod disposed transversely within the housing, keys having rearwardly facing key slots at their rear ends springably engaged with said pivot rod and downwardly projecting arms at their front ends provided with longitudinal slots and transverse key hole slots opening at the lower ends thereof, and hammers having angularly disposed arms at their front ends disposed in said longitudinal slots of said keys and provided with pivots springably engaging the key slots thereof, the angled portions of said angularly disposed arms constituting sliding fulcrums for said hammers.

4. In a musical instrument, the combination of a support, sound elements mounted thereon, a key pivot rod, keys having key hole slots at their rear ends springably receiving said pivot rod and having downwardly projecting arms at their front ends provided with key hole slots, hammers having angularly disposed arms at their front ends provided with pivots springably engaging the slots in the front ends of said keys, said hammer arms constituting sliding fulcrums for said hammers, and a combined hammer fulcrum and key buffer strip disposed below the front ends of the keys to receive the impact thereof and to swingably support the hammers adjacent their pivots.

5. In a musical instrument, the combination of a support, sound elements mounted thereon, a key pivot rod, keys having key hole slots at their rear ends springably receiving said pivot rod and having downwardly projecting arms at their front ends provided with key hole slots, and hammers having angularly disposed arms at their front ends provided with pivots springably engaging the slots in the front ends of said keys, said hammer arms constituting sliding fulcrums for said hammers.

6. In a musical instrument, the combination of a support, sound elements mounted thereon, a key pivot rod, keys having key hole slots at their rear ends springably receiving said pivot rod and having downwardly projecting arms at their front ends provided with key hole slots, and hammers having pivots at their front ends springably engaging the slots in the front ends of said keys.

7. In a musical instrument, the combination of a support, sound elements mounted thereon, pivotally mounted keys having downwardly projecting arms at their front ends, hammers having angularly disposed arms at their front ends pivotally connected to the front ends of said keys, said hammer arms constituting sliding fulcrum's for said hammers, and a non-metallic fulcrum for .said hammers.

8. In a musical instrument, the combination of a support, sound elements carried thereby, keys pivotally mounted on said support and having downwardly opening key hole slots at their front ends, hammers having pivots springably engaged in said slots, a fulcrum element for said hamm'ers disposed rearwardly of their points of connection to the keys, said hammers being free to slide on and swing upwardly from said fulcrum for free striking movement with the sound elements, and a return buier for said hammers.

9. In a musical instrument, the combination of a support, sound elements carried thereby, keys pivotally mounted on said support, hammers pivotally engaged with the said keys, and a fulcrum element for said hammers disposed rearwardly of their points of connection to the keys, said hammers being free to slide on and swing upwardly from said fulcrum for free striking movement with the sound elements.

10. In a musical instrument, the combination of a support, sound elements mounted thereon, a key pivot rod, keys having key hole slots in their rear ends springably receiving said pivot rod and key hole slots in their front ends, and hammers having pivots springably engaged in said slots in the front ends of said keys, said hammers being freely swingable on their said pivotal connections to said keys and being provided with a sliding fulcrum at the rear of said pivotal connections to the keys whereby they are free to swing on their pivots into striking engagement with the sound elements when actuated by said keys.

11. In a musical instrument, the combination of a support, sound elements mounted thereon, a key pivot rod, keys having snap on engagement with said pvot rod, and hammers having pivots having snap on engagement with said keys, said hammers being freely swingable on their said pivotal connections to said keys and being pro vided with a sliding fulcrum at the rear of the pivotal connections to the keys whereby they are free to swing on their pivots into striking engagement with the sound elements when actuated by said keys.

12. A toy piano comprising a housing having top and bottom walls, said bottom wall extending beyond the top Wall toward the front thereof, a face plate depending from said top wall and terminating short of said bottom Wall, a front board projecting upwardly from said bottom wall forwardly from said face plate to approximately the level of the bottom of said face plate, a key pivot rod extending along the lower edge of said face plate and spaced slightly therebelow, key elements having slots in their rear edges springably engaging said rod, down turned ends on the front of said key elements defining other slots, and hammer elements having pivots on the front thereof springably engaged in said other slots, said hammer elements having a fulcrum portion engageable with said bottom wall at points below and to the rear of said pivots in the raised position of said key elements.

13. A toy piano comprising a housing having top and bottom walls, said bottom wall extending beyond the top wall toward the front thereof, a

face plate depending from" said top wall and terminating short of said bottom wall, a front board projecting upwardly from said bottom wall forwardly from said face plate, a key pivot rod extending along the lower edge of said face plate, key elements having slots in their rear edges springably engaging said rod, down turned ends on the front of said keys dening other slots, and hammer elements having pivots on the front thereof springably engaged in said other slots, said hammers having 'fulcrum portions engageable with said bottom wall at points below and to the rear of said pivots in the raised position of said key elements.

14. A toy piano comprising a housing having top and bottom walls, said bottom Wall extending beyond the top wall toward the front thereof, a face plate depending from said top wall and terminating short of said bottom wall, a front board projecting upwardly from said bottom wall forwardly from said face plate, a key pivot rod extending along the lower edge of said face plate, key elements having slots in their rear edge springably engaging said rod, the fronts of said keys defining other slots, and hammer elements having pivots on the front thereof springably engaged in said other slots, said hammers having fulcrum portions engageable with said bottom wall at points below and to the rear of said pivots in the raised position of said key elements.

JOHN A. BREWER.

- le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,444,722 Bartholomae Feb. 6, 1923 2,159,491 Rose May 23, 1939 2,260,310 Gould Oct. 28, 1941 2,279,144 Lohr Apr. '7, 1942 

